Detachable shoe cleat



Jan. 18, 1949. M. A. ROBINSON 2,459,455

DETACHABLE SHOE CLEAT Filed Nov. 3, 1947 MWPM Patented Jan. 18, 1949 UNITED @STATES PATENT FFICE DnTAonABLE suon OLEAT Melvin A. Robinson, Washington, D. C. Application November a, 1947, serial No. 783,731

(o1. 'sc r') Claims. l.

The present invention is aground gripping device or `cleat designed as a temporary attachment to the soles of the wearers shoes,"with the purpose of affording to the wearer a sure footing when engaged in such athletics as golf and hiking 't orthe like. i i

Oneadvantage of this device, readily attachable to, and equally detachable from any shoe, is that it may be employed without marring the appearance or damaging the construction or materials of the shoe.

`A further advantage is that the adjustability of this `device `is such that a proper iit maybe obtained for a large range of sizes `of adult shoes.

Another advantage of this device is that its cooperating elements are separable, one from the other,` enabling dirt and other objectionable `material that may collect between them to be removed.`

One object of the present invention is to provide a shoe cleat which is of simple and rugged construction, andv consists ofa minimum `of .parts o1':sheet `metal stampings, therebyfacilitat'ing its manufacture. To attain these ends the present shoe cleat consists essentiallyi of two swingable elements, `in which one element is a soleplate somewhat in Vtheshape of a half sole. In use the sole plate is lodged firmly against the forward half ofthe sole of the shoe and together with the other element swingable thereon, both elements carrying ground grippingcalks, the cleat is positively `anddetachably mounted `on the sole of the shoe. t

The two cooperating elements comprising this shoe `cleat Aare theplate, substantially inthe form of a half sole, and an elongated strip swingably and detachably mounted on the plate. The elongated strip. extends essentially diagonally across the plate with its ends extending beyond the limits of the plate, These two elements are held in detachable and swingable engagement through two arcuate slots `in the plate. l It is through these slots that the'strip is engaged with the plate and a positive clamping mechanism is operated to fix the two elements in an adjusted position.

The `swinging arrangement of the parts s de- Vscribed above affords to the cleat` a widedegree of transverse expansibility, enabling it to Abe vadjusteditot` various sizes Vof shoes, while-the lpositiveclamping mechanism enables the cleatto` be held in-.rm :and secure engagementwith the sole .ofthe shoe ,once adjusted thereupon.

i Extending from the plate` sectionof the cleat areftwo lshort armswhose ends are turned up and back to form clips for securely engaging thepet riphery of a sole. One of these arms extends from a forward inside portion of the plate enabling its clip to grip the inside toe portion of the sole, while the other arm extends from the very rear outside portion of the cleat so that its clip will grip the outside forward section of the Vsoles arch. Likewise,` each end of the elongated strip is formed into similar clips, the forward clip gripping the outside portion of the soles toe and the rearward clip gripping the inside forward section lof the solesv arch.

A fuller and more detailed description of this device is given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which:

`Figure l is a bottom face view of a shoe with the cleat or anti-slipping device attached thereto.

`"Figure 2 is a side View of a shoe with the cleat attached thereto.

Figure 3 is a cross section View oi a calk, nut, and lock washer arrangement taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. l, and also showing a cross sectional View of the usual ground gripping calks employed in this cleat.

Figure 4 is a top face view of the shoe cleat showing that surface of the cleat which contacts the shoesole,

Figure 5 is a `bottom face View of the nut used in the clamping arrangement.

The invention herein described consists of a plate 20, substantially in the shape of a half sole and, when applied in its proper position tothe sole of a shoe, substantially covers the forward part of the sole. Transversely extending from plate '2D are two short arms til and 6i whose ends are formed into clips as shown at I8, :arm 60 being longer than arm 6l. Elongated `strip l0 is swingably landdetachably assembled to plate 20 through the two arcuate slots til and 4| in said plate, substantially as shown in Fig. l. Each end of strip l0 isformed into `a clip as shown at I8. Thus, when the cleat is applied to a shoe, the periphery of the sole is securely gripped by four clips i8, one gripping the outside toe portion, another gripping the inside toe portion, a third gripping the vforward outside portion of the arch, and a fourth gripping the forward inside portion of the arch of the sole. In addition, the clipsfare formed on a bias to the strip it and the extension and 6l; as shown at positions I9, so that they might more nearly conform to the contour ofthe `periphery oflthe sole than were they formed perpendicularly to `said elements. Arms 6U `and `BI arepreferably out of alignment. Thus armll extends from the rear portion of the sole` plate 2U and its clip I8 is designed to engage the midportion of the outer edge of the sole, The arm 6| extends from the toe portion of the sole plate and its clip engages the inside toe edge of the sole.

Depending from plate 20 and strip I0 is a plurality of substantially pointed calks or spikes I2, which are shaped as shown in Figure 3 and include a base plate, a pointed ground gripping spike portions extending from one side of the base plate and a shank portion extending from the otherl side.

The alignment of strip I across plate 20 is located within the limits of swingability of the strip as dei-ined by the arcuate slots 40 and 4|. These slots are so located in plate 20 that when the slot engaging means of the strip are centrally positioned in said slots the strip will intersect the inner edge zone 2| of plate 2D, substantially at right angles and at a point approximately medially between the arms 60 and 6|, so as to place each clip i8 at those points along the soles periphery which will afford to the cleat the greatest security in its attachment to said sole. As shown in Figure l, the forward two clips attach themselves to the toe of the sole, while the rear two clips attach themselves to the widening portion o the arch as it joins the forward half sole, thus eliminating the possibility of longitudinal slippage of the cleat along the sole.

Essentially the strip l0 is provided Iwith two threaded openings to receive the threaded shanks 32 of two clamping calks. These threaded openings may be formed directly in the strip l0 or the strip may be provided with an integral interiorly threaded sleeve, such as sleeve which enters the slots 40 and 4| and thereby serves to assemble the elements I0 and 20. Also, the cooperation of the threaded calks with the threaded sleeves, when screwed tightly therein, and further aided by the cooperation of lock washer 3|, serves to clamp the elements in adjusted position.

Figure 3 shows a detailed cross section of the assembling and clamping means operating through arcuate slot 4|, the description of which is equally applicable to the corresponding assembling and clamping means operating through slot 40, the two being substantially identical in construction and operation. Nut 33 is attached to strip l0 and held in position by means of downturned serrations 3d which pass through suitable holes in strip l and are then bent over the opposite side of thestrip. Interiorly threaded shank 5| of nut 33 extends through strip i0 and through the arcuate slot 4| in plate 20. This nut 33 with its interiorly threaded shank 5| serves to assemble the plate and strip. Calk 30, with its threaded shank portion 32 screwing into the nut 33, coacts with the nut to secure the elements l0 and 20 rmly in adjusted position. In addition, lock washer 3| is inserted between the base plate 53 of calk 30 and plate 20 to aid in obtaining secure clamping of the plate and strip. Suitable tightening of this clamping mechanism is obtained by applying a Spanner wrench to the holes 35 of calk 30 and screwing the calk into the nut 33 so that base plate 53 will bear against the lock washer and plate 20 to bring the plate and strip into secure frictional engagement.

Thus, when completely disassembled for cleaning, storage, or other purposes, the shoe cleat may be reassembled and tted to a shoe sole in the following manner: Strip I0 and plate 20 are brought into assembly by means of the two nuts 33 and 83 and their associated shanks. These elements are retained in assembly by means of calks 30 and 80 and their respective lock washers cooperating with the nuts 33 and 83. The cleat may now be applied to the sole of a shoe by adjusting it thereon to securely grip the periphery thereof, whereupon it may be clamped in adjusted position by tightening calks 30 and 80. Once clamped in its adjusted position the mechanism will not loosen in its normal use.

Removal of the cleat from a shoe is accomplished by loosening the clamping calks 30 and to permit swingable freedom between the plate and strip and moving these two elements with respect to one another until the sole clips become disengaged from the sole as permitted by the transverse expansibility of the cleat.

The sole plate 20 will be seen to approximate the shape of the half sole of a shoe. Primarily its shape is designed to provide a firm support for the shoe as well as for the cooperating elongated strip |0 and the clamping mechanism, the shape however being such as to permit for the proper positioning of the sole plate on the shoe in such a manner that all clips I8 firmly engage the edge of the sole and no part of the sole plate, except for the clips, extends beyond the confines of the sole. The present sole plate with its pair of non-aligned clips has the advantage of providing clips where they are most eiective.

The drawings and the above specification disclose one form of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited thereby, and variations thereof embodying the principles of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

The features of novelty shown and not claimed herein are claimed in the applicants copending Patent 2,430,412 of November 4, 1947, of which the present application is a continuation-impart.

What is claimed is:

1. A: detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate, the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; said strip being mounted on and extending across said plate with end portions protruding therefrom; calks carried by said plate; the plate and strip each having two sole engaging clips, said sole plate having two arcuate slots guiding the relative swingable movement between said elements, said strip having two openings, one coincident with each of said slots, means passing through each of said coincident slots and openings, said -means serving to assemble said elements, and means coacting with said last named means to secure said elements firmly in adjusted position.

2. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate, the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; said strip being mounted on and extending across said plate with end portions protruding therefrom; calks carried by said plate; the strip having two sole engaging clips, the plate having one sole engaging clip near its toe and having a second clip on the opposite edge and near the rear edge, said sole plate having two arcuate slots guiding the relative swingable movement between said elements, said strip having two openings, one coincident with each of said slots, means passing through` each of said coincident slots and openings, said means serving to assemble said elements, and means coacting with said last named means to secure said elements firmly in adjusted position. .l

3. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate and the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; said strip being mounted on and extending across said plate with end portions protruding therefrom; calks carried by the plate; the plate and strip each having sole engaging clips; the plate having a pair of oppositely disposed slots and the strip having a pair of openings in substantial registry with said slots; and a clamping device passing through each slot and its associated opening holding said elements in relative swingable relation, said device also serving to firmly clamp the elements in adjusted position.

4. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate and the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; said strip being mounted on and extending across said plate with end portions protruding therefrom; calks carried by said cleat; said plate and strip each having sole engaging clips, said plate having a pair of oppositely disposed slots, said strip having a pair of threaded openings in substantial registry with said slots, and two of said calks having threaded shanks, one passing through each of said slots and coacting with said strip by means of said corresponding threaded openings to clamp said elements in adjusted position.

5. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate and the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; said strip being mounted on and extending across said plate with end portions protruding therefrom; calks carried by said cleat; the plate and strip each having sole engaging clips, the plate having a pair of slots, the strip having a pair of openings in substantial registry with said slots; and means passing through each of said slots and `coasting with said strip by means of said corresponding openings to clamp said elements in adjusted position.

MELVIN A. ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 5i, 1891 Number 

